Q: How has your store prepared for Y2K, and how have sales been impacted by the millennial hype?
"Oddly enough, I don't think Y2K really has had an impact here. I have not really noticed a change, but I have had a lot of customers ask me if we are going to have a lot of stock in store at the turn of the new year. We basically have said that we won't stock more than usual. So, I think that more than anything, people are just kind of wondering if there are going to be a lot of items in this store for them. But then, who knows; as we're getting closer to the deadline, who's to say?"
Michelle Frank, president
Peninsula Health Nutrition
Kenai, Alaska
"We have just bought more than usual and stacked it up on the shelves. Also, we bought new computer equipment to deal with the new millennium."
William Yang, owner
Natures Way
Garden Grove, Calif.
"My sales have not been adversely affected by the Y2K question, as far as I can tell, and since I am not computerized, there really has not been much need to prepare. I have not been questioned by customers to stock up on anything extra or unusual at this time."
Jim Wallen, owner
Yorktown Natural Foods
Yorktown, Ind.
"We started preparing early, and we have documentation from our suppliers and our hardware providers promising that there won't be any problems. Where there are problems, we have taken measures to make sure there won't be any additional problems by modifying systems and equipment. As far as sales go, we've taken advantage of the public's interest in Y2K to sell long-term food storage containers as well as a lot of the bulk merchandise that we sell in quantity. We have offered pricing and display that make it attractive to people who are looking for that sort of thing."
Steve Allison, manager
Henry's
El Cajon, Calif.
"I'm not computerized, so I guess I am neither prepared nor unprepared. I am a pretty basic--small regular cash register and things like that. I really haven't seen that big of a change in my customers' buying habits for Y2K. I really haven't had people buying bulk or going crazy about it. I've had some people ask about Y2K, but then they just thought they didn't really need to buy like that. I haven't really seen a big scare with my customers."
Bambi Behm, President
Green Acres Natural Food Market
Council Bluffs, Iowa
| Tell us: Q: What hot sports nutrition products are you stocking and selling, and how is consumer interest in the category? To offer your opinion in February HSR, call Kelly LaCascia by Dec. 15, at (480) 990-1101, ext. 1430; fax: (480) 990-0819 e-mail: klacascia@vpico.com |